Special teams gaffes hurt Bolts

PITTSBURGH – Two rare special teams errors by the Chargers were as big as anything in deciding Sunday's divisional playoff game at Heinz Field.

“Our special teams have been one of our strengths and been something that have been fabulous since I've been here,” coach Norv Turner said by way of defending the unit.

But in Sunday's 35-24 loss to Pittsburgh, the Steelers, second-to-last in the league in punt return average during the regular season, became the first team to return a Mike Scifres punt for a touchdown when Santonio Holmes did so in the first quarter.

Holmes' 67-yard dash was the first punt return TD the Chargers allowed since December 2003.

“They did a great job on one of our gunners,” Turner said. “When they kicked back there was no one there. He made a great run.”

Brandon Siler did his job coming down the middle of the field, but he was the only one to touch Holmes, who burst past Siler and through a gigantic hole and down the sideline to tie the game 7-7.

Then in the third quarter, with the Chargers down 21-10, the Steelers were forced to punt from their 34. Mitch Berger sent a 43-yard punt to the 23, where it hit Eric Weddle in the helmet and caromed into the hands of William Gay after bouncing on the ground.

“I saw Sproles running to me,” Weddle said, “but he was so far away I was like, 'Oh, he's going to run and catch it; I'm going to turn and block my guy.'And I turned and blocked my guy, and the ball hit me.”

Another big effort

Tight end Antonio Gates went to bed Saturday night thinking he would not be playing the next day.

He took two shots to numb his right ankle, which has a high sprain, and did not participate in pregame warmups. He strongly considered not playing but was already on the active list.

Gates had an MRI Saturday and will have another this week to see if he did any further damage that might require surgery.

He said he could not cut or push off even as effectively as he did in the wild-card game last weekend. After finishing with five catches for 59 yards, he doubted he could have played in the AFC Championship Game if the Chargers were in it. It is likely he will have to sit out the Pro Bowl.

“I'd love to be healthy for the playoffs,” said Gates, who last season was reduced to being a decoy in the final two postseason games due to a toe injury that later required surgery. “Not just me, but LT (LaDainian Tomlinson) – the playmakers.”

Can't close

The Steelers' go-ahead touchdown with 40 seconds remaining in the first half was the fifth touchdown the Chargers allowed in the closing possession of the first half.

The closing minutes of halves were not the Chargers' shining moments on defense. During the regular season, they allowed 67 points on their opponents'final possession of halves, fifth-most in the league.

Rivers survives

Philip Rivers' head hit the turf hard when the quarterback was slammed to the ground by LaMarr Woodley on a sack at the 2-yard line in the fourth quarter.
“It was a good hit,” Rivers said. “I got my bell rung. I was never out but certainly a little cuckoo for a few seconds.”

It was one of four sacks Rivers endured on the night.

“These guys are a physical, relentless defense,” Rivers said. “You expect when you play them you're going to take some of those blows.”

Rivers' 105.4 passer rating was almost identical to his season rating (105.5). He completed 21 of his 35 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions. He threw on 19 of the Chargers' 22 second-half plays and was sacked on the other three.

“The front fought all night long,” Rivers said. “You're at a disadvantage on offense when you get in a situation where you have to throw every play.”

Rough night

Weddle did record the Chargers' only sack of Ben Roethlisberger, but Sunday night otherwise was a rough one. Pittsburgh's touchdown early in the fourth quarter, a 1-yard run by Gary Russell that gave the Steelers a 28-10 lead, was made possible by a pass interference call on Weddle on a 45-yard pass into the end zone for Nate Washington.

“He did a dig-and-go,” said Weddle. “I was inside of him. When you're running man-to-man with a guy and you see his arms (begin to come up), you're taught to rip his arms out. I didn't see the replay. I felt like I was right on in timing, but I must have been a second early. That's on me.”

Nuts 'n' Bolts

– Scifres kicked off in place of Nate Kaeding in the first half, because Kaeding's groin strain hampered his ability to push off on kicks. But after Scifres, who had not kicked off much in a game since 2005, sent two balls short and low, Turner asked Kaeding to resume his kickoff duties in the second half.

– Chargers players who get a full share will earn $40,000 apiece for their playoff run.

– Since missing a 48-yard field goal at Indianapolis last January, Kaeding has made six straight postseason field goals.

– Legedu Naanee scored his first career touchdown on a 4-yard reception in the fourth quarter.

– Sunday was the Chargers' first loss in three postseason games against the Steelers. It was their 14th loss in 16 games overall here.

– The Chargers' touchdown on their first possession was their only opening-drive TD of the season.

The Chargers were the only road team to lose this weekend. The last time three road teams won on the same weekend in the playoffs was 1971.